Stackable wire crate



1955 c. c. AVERILL- STACKABLE WIRE CRATE Filed Nov. 15, 1952 United States Patent STACKABIJE WIRE CRATE Charles C. Averill, Albion, Mich, assignor to Union Steel Products Company, Albion, *Mich a corporation of Michigan Application November 15, 1952, Serial No. 320,663

8 Claims. .(Cl. 220-719) This invention relates to improvements in a stackable wire crate.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a-metal crate in which the receptacle proper may be formed of relatively'light wire stock and is supported and guarded by .a base which renders the structure capable of withstanding rough .usage. 7

Second, to provide a metal crate comprising a receptacle and a base in which the receptacle and the'base may be formed as separate units and assembled into a unitary structure thereby greatly facilitating the manufacture.

Third, to provide a crate which may be be effectively handled on conveyors and slid or drawn about on a floor, deck or platform withoutserious injury thereto.

Fourth, to provide a crate .having these advantages which may be economically produced, both in the matter of material and the assembling thereof.

Objects relating to details and economies of the .invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a crate embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical :section on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. 1, illustrating a pair of crates in stacked relation.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of :the receptacle unit.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the base unit.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the base .unit.

The .crate .of my invention is adapted for a wide variety of uses, one of them being a crate for .milk and the like but I have not illustrated partitions therein as they form no part of my present invention and further, the crate is, as stated, adapted for many uses such as handling produce and for materials in shops, factories and the like.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated comprises a receptacle designated generally by the numeral 1 and a base designated generally by the numeral 2. The receptacle and base are fabricated as separate units and then assembled as will hereinafter be pointed out.

The receptacle 1 comprises vertically spaced horizontal frame members 3, 4 and 5 formed \of wire or light rod stock. I provide sets of U-shaped side wall and bottom slat members 6 including integral side wallslats 7 and bottom slats 8. The side wall slats are arranged on the inner sides of the frame members and fixedly "secured thereto as by welding indicated .at 9 in Fig. 2. The slat members 6 are disposed with their bottom slats 8 in crossing relation and-fixedly secured at'theircrossing points as by welding indicated at 10. The set of slats, the bottom slats of which are superimposed on the other bottom slats, is preferably formed of wire of fiatsection as is illustrated. The framemember'3 constitutes the top border frame-or rim-.ofthereceptacle.

The base comprises the border frame :11 of shape and dimensions approximately that of the top frame 3. The base cross members 12 are desirably of a gauge of stock substantially exceeding that of the base border frame and have upwardly offset ends 13 lapped upon the top of and welded at 14 to opposite members of the base frame. Angled corner members 15 are disposed in vertically aligned spaced relation to the base frame and have downturned ends 16 fixedly secured to the top of the base border frame, desirably by welding as indicated at 17.

The annular shoe 18 is of the same shape as the base frame, the corresponding sides thereof being spaced inwardly from the base frame as illustrated. This shoe is welded as indicated at 19 to the under sides of the base crosspieces 12 and constitutes a direct support for the crate when it is carried along on a conveyor or is dragged or slid along on the 'floor, platform or deck. The shoe 18 is desirably of a heavier gauge stock than the base frame 11 and constitutes a supporting member and a reinforcing element for the base.

After the base and the receptacle are assembled, the assembled receptacle is placed upon the base within the cornermembers and fixedly secured to the crosspieces of the base, desirably by welding as is indicated at 20. The corner members are substantially spaced from the base border frame and they are of substantial length so that they embrace a plurality of both sets of slats at the corners of -the receptacle. When one receptacle is stacked upon another, the shoe 18 of a superimposed crate is positioned within the top border frame of the adjacent lower crate and they thus serve as stacking members, preventing the upper crates from sliding oif the lower crates.

In the manufacture of the receptacle, the sets of bottom and side slat members may be disposed in the fiat in .crossed relation and welded together at their crossing .points. The side wall slat portions are then bent upwardly and the frame members 3, 4 and 5 welded thereto with the frame member .3 constituting the top 'frame ofthe receptacle.

'In assembling the base, the border frame 11, cross members 12 and the shoe 18 may be placed ina suit able jig and welded into assembled relation. The corner members 16 may then be welded imposition.

The crate of my invention is capable of withstanding very severe usage. The metal crates of this general type are roughly handled and even frequently thrown or tossed about. The crossing slats are also desirably welded to the corner members. The shoe receives the wear when the crate -is dragged about and it also provides a stable base when the crate is conveyed by a conveyor of the roller type.

.I have illustrated anddescribed my invention in a practical commercial embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other adaptations which Icontemplate as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may bedesired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a crate, thecombination of a receptacle comprising vertically spaced horizontally disposed generally rectangularly shaped frame members, one of which constitutes a top border frame, sets of laterally spaced U-shaped side wall and bottom slat members disposed with the bottom slats of one set in superimposed crossing relation and fixedly connected to the bottom slats of the other set, the side wall slats "being disposed-0n the'inner sides of said receptacle frame members and fixedly secured thereto, the slat members of the sethavingtheir bottom slats disposed upon the bottom slats ofthe other set being of flattened cross section, a base comprising a border frame of a generally rectangular shape and of substantially the peripheral dimensions of the receptacle top border frame whereby the base border frame may be supported upon the top border frame of a lower like crate of stacked crates, spaced parallel base crosspieces having their ends upwardly offset relative to the portions thereof intermediate said ends, said ends being disposed upon and fixedly secured to the upper sides of opposed members of the base border frame, base corner members disposed angularly around the corners of the crate and disposed in vertically spaced aligned relation to the base border frame and having downturned arms at their ends fixedly secured to the upper sides of the base border frame, and a framelike shoe of corresponding generally rectangular shape but of slightly less dimension than that of the base border frame secured to the under sides of said base crosspieces and disposed with its bottom below the level of the bottom of the base border frame whereby the shoe may be disposed within a top border frame of a lower like crate of stacked crates, said receptacle being disposed upon said base crosspieces and the lower bottom slats thereof fixedly secured to said base crosspieces with each of said corner members embracing a plurality of side wall slats of both sets in vertically spaced relation to their lower ends.

2. In a crate, the combination of a receptacle comprising vertically spaced horizontally disposed generally rectangularly shaped frame members, one of which constitutes a top border frame, sets of laterally spaced U-shaped side wall and bottom slat members disposed with the bottom slats of one set in superimposed crossing relation and fixedly connected to the bottom slats of the other set, the side wall slats being disposed on the inner sides of said receptacle frame members and fixedly secured thereto, a base comprising a border frame of a generally rectangular shape and of substantially the peripheral dimensions of the receptacle top border frame whereby the base border frame may be supported upon the top border frame of a lower like crate of stacked crates, spaced parallel base crosspieces fixedly secured to opposed side members of the base border frame, base corner members disposed angularly around the corners of the crate and disposed in vertically spaced aligned relation to the base border frame and having downturned arms at their ends fixedly secured to the base border frame, and a frame-like shoe of corresponding generally rectangular shape but of slightly less dimension than that of the base border frame secured to the under sides of said base crosspieces and disposed with its bottom below the level of the bottom of the base border frame whereby the shoe may be disposed within a top border frame of a lower like crate of stacked crates; said receptacle being disposed upon said base crosspieces and the lower bottom slats thereof fixedly secured to said base crosspieces with each of said corner members embracing a plurality of side wall slats of both sets in vertically spaced relation to their lower ends.

3. in a crate, the combination of a receptacle comprising vertically spaced horizontally disposed generally rectangularly shaped frame members, one of which constitutes a top frame, sets of laterally spaced U-shaped side wall and bottom slat members disposed with the bottom slats of one set in crossing relation and fixedly connected to the bottom slats of the other set, the side wall slats being disposed on the inner sides of said receptacle frame members and fixedly secured thereto, a base comprising a border frame of a generally rectangular shape and substantially the peripheral dimensions of the receptacle top border frame whereby the base border frame may be supported upon the top border frame of a lower like crate of stacked crates, spaced parallel base crosspieces having their ends fixedly secured to opposed side members of the base border frame, base corner members disposed angularly around the corners of the crate and disposed in vertically spaced aligned relation to the base border frame, said corner members having downturned ends fixedly secured to said base border frame, and a frame-like shoe spaced inwardly from the base border frame and secured to the under sides of said base crosspieces and disposed with its bottom below the level of the bottom of the base border frame whereby the shoe may be disposed within a top border frame of a lower like crate of stacked crates, said receptacle being disposed upon said base crosspieces and the bottom slats thereof fixedly connected to said base crosspieces with said corner members embracing and constituting guards for the side wall slats at the corners of the receptacle.

4. In a crate, the combination of a receptacle comprising a top frame of a general rectangular shape in horizontal section, sets of laterally spaced U-shaped side wall and bottom slat members disposed with the bottom slats of one set in crossing relation and fixedly connected to the bottom slats of the other set, the side wall slats being fixedly secured to the top frame, a base comprising a border frame of a generally rectangular shape and substantially the peripheral dimensions of the receptacle top frame whereby the base border frame may be supported upon the top border frame of a lower like crate of stacked crates, spaced parallel base crosspieces having their ends fixedly secured to the base border frame, base corner members disposed angularly around the corners of the crate and disposed in vertically spaced aligned relation to the base border frame, said corner members having downturned ends fixedly secured to said base border frame, and a frame-like shoe spaced inwardly from the base border frame and secured to the under sides of said base crosspieces and disposed with its bottom below the level of the bottom of the base border frame whereby the shoe may be disposed within a top border frame of a lower like crate of stacked crates, said receptacle being disposed upon said base crosspieces and fixedly secured thereto with said corner members embracing and constituting guards for the side wall slats at the corners of the receptacle.

5. In a crate, the combination of a receptacle of a general rectangular shape in horizontal section comprising slatted bottom and side walls and having a top border frame, a base comprising a border frame of the general rectangular shape and substantially of the peripheral dimensions of the receptacle top border frame whereby the base border frame may be supported upon the top border frame of a lower like crate of stacked crates, spaced parallel base crosspieces having their ends upwardly Offset relative to the portions thereof intermediate said ends, said ends being disposed upon and fixedly secured to the upper sides of opposed side members of the base border frame, base corner members disposed angularly around the corners of the crate and disposed in vertically spaced aligned relation to the base border frame and having downturned arms at their ends fixedly secured to the upper sides of the base border frame, and a shoe disposed inwardly of and adjacent to and shaped corresponding to the base border frame and secured to said base crosspieces and disposed with its bottom below the level of the bottom of the base border frame whereby the shoe may be disposed within a top border frame of a lower like crate of stacked crates, said receptacle being disposed within said base corner members upon said base crosspieces and fixedly secured thereto.

6. In a crate, the combination of a receptacle of a general rectangular shape in horizontal section comprising slatted bottom and side walls and having a top border frame, a base comprising a border frame of the general rectangular shape and substantially of the peripheral dimensions of the receptacle top border frame whereby the base border frame may be supported upon the top border frame of a lower like crate of stacked crates, base crosspieces fixedly secured to opposed side members of the base border frame, base corner members disposed in vertically spaced aligned relation to the base border frame and having downturned arms at their ends fixedly secured to the upper sides of the base border frame, can a shoe disposed inwardly of and adjacent to and shaped corresponding to the base border frame and secured to said base crosspieces and disposed with its bottom below the level of the bottom of the base border frame whereby the shoe may be disposed within a top border frame of a lower like crate of stacked crates, said receptacle being disposed within said base corner members upon said base crosspieces and fixedly secured thereto.

7. In a crate polygonally shaped in horizontal section, the combination of a receptacle, a base comprising a border frame of the general peripheral shape and substantially of the dimensions of the receptacle at the top thereof whereby the base border frame may be supported upon the upper edge of a lower like crate of stacked crates, base crosspieces fixedly secured to the base border frame, base corner members disposed angularly around the corners of the crate and disposed in vertically spaced aligned relation to the base border frame and having downturned arms at their ends fixedly secured to the upper sides of the base border frame, and a shoe secured to the base crosspieces and disposed inwardly of and adjacent to the base border frame and in a projected position below the level of the base border frame whereby the shoe is in a projected position in a crate of a lower like crate of stacked crates, said receptacle being disposed upon said base crosspieces and fixedly secured thereto within said base corner members and guarded thereby.

8. In a stacking crate, a receptacle, and a base secured to said receptacle, said base comprising a border frame disposed around the receptacle adjacent to the bottom thereof, said border frame being of a peripheral shape and of peripheral dimensions approximating that of the upper edge of the receptacle whereby such base border frame may be supported on and in vertical alinement with the upper edge of a lower like crate of stacked crates, crosspieces having their ends secured to the upper side of the base border frame and having the portions thereof intermediate said secured ends oifset downwardly relative to the upper side of the base border frame, and a shoe secured to the low sides of said downwardly ofiset portions of the crosspieces, said shoe being of a peripheral shape approximating that of the base border frame and being of peripheral dimensions less than but approximating that of such border frame and disposed below the level of the base border frame whereby the shoe may be disposed within a lower like crate of stacked crates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,010,801 Rapp Dec. 5, 1911 1,252,740 Thornblade Jan. 8, 1918 1,559,695 Hatch Nov. 3, 1925 2,326,414 Thompson Aug. 10, 1943 2,512,517 Bruce June 20, 1950 

